Baltimore Diner: Crush closes in Belvedere Square

Crush has closed. The last day for the Belvedere Square restaurant was Nov. 28.

Crush, which opened in 2008, was from Daniel Chaustit, who had been the "Daniel" half of Timonium's still-running Christopher Daniel restaurant.

There is no firm word yet on future plans for the restaurant space. In an emailed statement, a representative of Cross Street Partners, the property's managers, wrote, "Right now Belvedere Square owners and management are discussing options for the space. Our goal is to maintain a wonderful neighborhood restaurant there."

Built in the mid-1980s, Belvedere Square was redeveloped in the early 2010s. Crush was the second restaurant to occupy the Belvedere Square anchor location, which had been converted from a Hess Shoes store. Ann Nault's Taste opened there in 2004.

Elsewhere on the square, businesses like Greg's Bagels, Grand Cru, Nouveau Contemporary Goods and Ryan's Daughter have stabilized, and the popular Market at Belvedere Square continues to evolve.

Atwater's, always one of the market's big draws for its soups and fresh breads, has recently revamped its offerings and expanded the various stalls it runs in the market. Market-goers now have an expanded coffee bar and something completely new, the Atwater's Dairy Bar.

The Dairy Bar serves, in addition to Taharka Bros. ice cream and old-fashioned milkshakes, substantial fare like cheese plates and sweet and savory yogurt dishes. The sweet dishes, made with either Pequea Valley Farm or Fage — both of which have something of a cult(ured) following — can be mixed with things like pear and pecan or even peanut butter and roasted grape puree. The savory choices include a Lebanese-style dish with cucumbers, olives and a spices and curried roasted pumpkin dish with salted green beans, salted granola, and pumpkin seed and garlic oil.

Ned Atwater said he hopes to be making his own ice creams and yogurts for the Dairy Bar. Coming too, he said, may be expanded hours at the cafe counter.

Atwater's is at 529 E. Belvedere Ave. For more information, call 410-323-2396 or go to atwaters.biz.

Power Plant changesKettle Hill has closed. Inspired by the life and spirit of Theodore Roosevelt, Kettle Hill opened April 20 on Market Place as the anchor restaurant in the Power Plant Live complex.

The team behind Kettle Hill were Keystone Hospitality partners Desmond Reilly and Kristopher Carr. In a nightlife review of Kettle Hill, The Baltimore Sun's Wesley Case wrote that "Kettle Hill is a strong anchor for Power Plant Live's needed face-lift, which includes the additions of Joe Squared and Leinenkugel Beer Garden."

In confirming the closure, the Cordish Cos. said: "The maturation and redevelopment of Power Plant Live has been a tremendous success and we are very proud that the district welcomed more visitors in the last 12 months than at any point in its history. Although any turn-over is unfortunate, we look forward to the continued success of the district."

A top return Jesse Sandlin is back at Vino Rosina (507 South Exeter St., 410-528-8600, vinorosina.com).

The "Top Chef" alumna was the chef when Vino Rosina opened in the spring of 2010 but left the following January.

The email announcing Sandlin's return stated: "Vino Rosina is going back to its roots. Chef Jesse is bringing back our concept of small and interesting plates to enhance our ever growing wine list."

The announcement also said that the Harbor East restaurant was discontinuing its lunch service.

A Stone for StevensonStone Mill Bakery will open a cafe space in Stevenson Village. Both the existing cafe at Green Spring Station in Lutherville (10751 Falls Road, 410-821-1358, stonemillbakery.com) and the wholesale bakery in Clipper Mill will remain in operation. There is no announced date for the Stevenson opening.

The Lutherville cafe opened in 1998 with the name Appetite. It emerged out of Ecole, a bakery that Stone Mill founder Billy Himmelrich used on weekend nights as a cafe serving a fixed-price menu. There were formerly Stone Mill cafes in Mount Washington and Roland Park.